The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – or RCEP -- agreement on Nov 15 will take commerce and trade between ASEAN and China to a new level, according to a senior foreign official from Vietnam.

Hoang Ngoc Vinh, consul general of Vietnam to Nanning, capital city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, said he was bullish about future trade relations. 

Hoang pointed out that Vietnam and China were connected with each other and the industries in the two countries were highly complementary.

"The signing of RCEP will further promote sound development between ASEAN and China in trade and investment," the envoy said.

He added that Vietnam was looking forward to having more trade with China in areas spanning manufacturing, the digital economy, new energy and construction of infrastructure -- building a better mechanism for cooperation that was more transparent and market-oriented.

He expressed the hope that China would take more open, inclusive and active initiatives towards ASEAN countries to push forward regional economic development.